Patent FR-2958661-A1 (FR)
Title: Making metallized container for perfume or cosmetics, comprises disposing hollow body with metallization coating layer and thermochromic coating layer, disposing laser on selected zones, and controlling thickness of coating layer
Inventor: PIVAUDRAN MATHIEU
IPC: B23K26/36
Filed: 2010-04-09
Abstract: The process of making a metallized container, comprises disposing a hollow body (2) provided with a metallization coating layer and a thermochromic coating layer, a transparent or translucent material constituting the metallization coating layer and the non-conductive thermochromic coating layer, a unit to produce the metallization coating layer on an electrically non-conductive substrate with the material constituting the coating layer and a unit for supplying power and a unit for controlling the operation, and disposing a laser providing a laser beam (16) on selected zones. The process of making a metallized container, comprises disposing a hollow body (2) provided with a metallization coating layer and a thermochromic coating layer, a transparent or translucent material constituting the metallization coating layer and the non-conductive thermochromic coating layer, a unit to produce the metallization coating layer on an electrically non-conductive substrate with the material constituting the coating layer and a unit for supplying power and a unit for controlling the operation, disposing a laser providing a laser beam (16) on selected zones in a direction and a path to completely remove the material bonding to the coating layer from the impact zone, controlling the thickness of the metallization coating layer, cutting a section of electrically conductive circuit equivalent to a length L and width I of known values in the coating layer, and separating and electrically isolating from the rest of the coating layer, whose terminals are accessible. The metallized container comprises a hollow body forming an inner space defined by a side wall (4) provided with an opening (5) and the metallization coating on inner and outer faces of the side wall. An ohmmeter is provided for determining the value of the resistivity of the material constituting the bonding layer of metallization. The terminals of the ohmmeter and the electrically conductive circuit section are electrically connected so as to measure the value of the electrical resistance of the electrically conductive circuit section. The thickness of the container is calculated from the resistance value , resistivity, length and width of the conductive circuits. The power supply unit is structurally connected to the container, and electrically connected to a conductive circuit pattern of the metallization coating layer. A sealing unit is arranged in the container to cooperate with the opening of the hollow body before or after filling the space inside the hollow body with the contents of the container. The power supply unit and operation control unit are structurally associated to the sealing unit. A location of the electrically conductive circuit section is chosen from an area visible from the outside of the container with the sealing unit. The laser is a solid state neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser, neodymium doped yttrium vanadate (Nd: YVO4) laser and ytterbium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Yb:YAG) laser having a wavelength of 1-1.5 mu m and a diameter of less than 50 mu m, peak power of greater than 10 kW, repetition frequency of greater than 10 kHz, pulse width of 100 ns and velocity of the laser spot of 0-5000 mm/s. Independent claims are included for: (1) a metallized container; and (2) an installation for making the metallized container.